Lamplight device for vehicle

• US 5,711,592 A
• Filed: 10/12/1995
• Issued: 01/27/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Hotta, Yoshihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): CARIASO, ALAN B
• Application Number:
  US08/542,452
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• Field of Search: 359/15, 359/22, 359/34, 385/37, 340/479, 340/815.56, 340/815.57, 362/61, 362/80, 362/26, 362/27, 362/31, 362/32, 362/293, 362/80.1, 362/327, 362/330, 362/311
• US Class Current: 362/496
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/302 mounted in the vicinity, e.g. in the middle, of a rear window
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/237 rod-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/239 plate-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/245 emitting light from one or more of its major surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/249 with two or more light sources being coupled into the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2223/16 Optical waveguide, e.g. optical fibre, rod

Abstract

A lamplight device for a vehicle which is inconspicuous when it is turned off is provided. The lamplight device comprises a reflection type or transmission type optical member installed on a predetermined place of a vehicle body either directly or through an appearance member, and is adapted to reflect or refract a light of a specific wave length, a light projecting mechanism for projecting a light of the specific wave length, and a light guiding mechanism for guiding the light projected from the light projecting mechanism to an outer surface or an reverse surface of the reflection type or transmission type optical member.

Claims

1. A lamplight device for a vehicle comprising:

a reflection type optical member installed on a light-impervious, exterior surface of a vehicular body and adapted to reflect light of a specific wave length;

a light projecting means for projecting light of said specific wave length; and

a light guiding means for guiding the light projected from said light projecting means to an outer surface of said reflection type optical member.

3. A lamp light device for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, including:

first and second reflection type optical members respectively adapted to reflect light of first and second specific wave lengths different from each other, the optical members being combined;

said light guiding means includes a substantially planar member having said combined optical members arranged adjacent to one face thereof;

a first light projecting means for projecting a light of a first specific wave length is positioned at an end portion of said substantially planar member near to said first optical member; and

a second light projecting means for projecting light of said second specific wave length is positioned at another end portion of said substantially planar member near to said second optical member;

thereby the lights of said first and second different wave lengths are entered into said substantially planar member from both said end portions thereof.

4. A lamp light device according to claim 1, wherein said optical member is installed directly on said exterior surface of the vehicular body, and an appearance of a surface of the exterior surface is visible through the optical member when said light projecting means is not projecting said light.

5. A lamp light device for a vehicle according to claim 1, further including:

a base member disposed between said optical member and the exterior surface of the vehicular body, and an appearance of a surface of said base member is visible through said optical member when said light projecting means is not projecting said light.

9. A lamp light device according to claim 1, wherein said light guiding means includes a substantially planar member, said optical member is disposed on a surface of said substantially planar member and together the light guiding means and the optical member have a layered, substantially flat configuration.

15. A lamp light device according to claim 3, wherein said first and second optical members as combined are disposed in a plane with an end edge of said first optical member connected to an end edge of said second optical member.

17. A lamp light device according to claim 5, wherein each of said light guiding means, said optical member, and said base member is substantially planar, and said optical member, said light guiding means and said base member are joined together in a flat, layered configuration.

2. A lamp light device for a vehicle comprising:

a transmission type optical member installed on a light-impervious, exterior surface of a vehicular body and adapted to refract light of a specific wave length;

a light projecting means for projecting light of said specific wave length; and

a light guiding means for guiding the light projected from said light projecting means to a reverse surface of said transmission type optical member.

6. A lamp light device according to claim 2, wherein said optical member is installed on the exterior Surface of the vehicular body through said light guiding means, and an appearance of a surface of said exterior surface is visible through said optical member when said light projecting means is not projecting said light.

7. A lamp light device for a vehicle according to claim 2, further including:

a base member disposed between said optical member and the exterior surface of the vehicular body, and an appearance of a surface of said base member is visible through said optical member when said light projecting means is not projecting said light.

8. A lamp light device for a vehicle as claimed in claim 2, including:

first and second transmission type optical members respectively adapted to refract light of first and second specific wave lengths different from each other, the optical members being combined;

said light guiding means includes a substantially planar member having said combined optical members arranged adjacent to one face thereof;

a first light projecting means for projecting a light of said first specific wave length is positioned at an end portion of said substantially planar member near to said first optical member; and

a second light projecting means for projecting a light of said second specific wave length is positioned at another end portion of said substantially planar member near to said second optical member;

thereby lights of said first and second different wave lengths are entered into said substantially planar member from said end portions thereof.

10. A lamp light device according to claim 2, wherein said light guiding means includes a substantially planar member, said optical member is disposed on a surface of said substantially planar member and together the substantially planar member and the optical member have a layered, substantially flat configuration.

18. A lamp light device according to claim 7, wherein each of said light guiding means, said optical member, and said base member is substantially planar, and said optical member, said light guiding means and said base member are joined together in a flat, layered configuration.

11. A lamp light device comprising:

a specific light wave length optical member adapted to be installed on a light-impervious, exterior surface of an object;

a light projecting means for projecting light of said specific wave length; and

a light guiding means for guiding the light projected from said light projecting means to a surface of said optical member such that the light will then be projected away from the object by said optical member;

said optical member permitting exterior light to pass therethrough when said light projecting means is not projecting said light of said specific wave length so that the exterior surface of said object is visible through the optical member.

12. A lamp light device as claimed in claim 11 including:

first and second optical members respectively associated with light of first and second specific wave lengths different from each other, the optical members being combined;

said light guiding means includes a substantially planar member having said combined optical members arranged adjacent to one face thereof;

a first light projecting means for projecting light of said first specific wave length is positioned at an end portion of said substantially planar member near to said first optical member; and

a second light projecting means for projecting a light of said second specific wave length is positioned at another end portion of said substantially planar member near to said second optical member;

thereby lights of said first and second different wave lengths are entered into said substantially planar member from both said end portions.

13. A lamp light device according to claim 11, wherein said optical member is installed directly on said exterior surface of said object such that an appearance of the exterior surface is visible through the optical member when said light projecting means is not projecting light.

14. A lamp light device according to claim 11, further including:

a base member disposed between said optical member and the object, and an appearance of a surface of said base member is visible through said optical member when said light projecting means is not projecting said light.

16. A lamp light device according to claim 11, wherein said light guiding means also functions as an exterior lens on the vehicle.

19. A lamp light device according to claim 11, wherein said light guiding means includes a substantially planar member, said optical member is disposed on a surface of said substantially planar member, and together the substantially planar member and the optical member has a layer, substantially flat configuration.

20. A lamp light device according to claim 11, wherein said exterior surface of said object is visible through both said optical member and said light guiding means when said light projecting means is not projecting light.